Wall tile



Mmh 12, 1935. A, R DIXON 1,994,172

WALL TILE Filed Sept. 5, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. R. DIXON WALL TILElMarch 12, 1935.

Filed Sept. 5, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Snnentor Pika/4]? zozz 7 megs March12, 1935.

A. R. DlxoN WALL TILE Filed Sept. l5. 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 'l tv/////Patented Mar. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES Y f WALL TILE V ArthurR. Dixon,Rowayton,V Conn., assignor to National Kellastone Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Application september 5, 1931,'seria1 No.561,470

of a tile which when incorpo-rated in a protective wall will form aninterior duct that will always beV accessible for any subsequent wiringoperation.

Inglarge oice buildings a serious problem has presented itself inconnection with adequately wiring the walls of such buildings so that alarge expense need not be incurred if the interior of the building berearranged. For instance, when a building is first constructedknowledge. of original and subsequent tenant requirements for electricaldistribution are unknown'.V Thus it has been necessary heretofore toprovide wallyand column outlets of far greater numberthan will berequired, but this practiceris followed in order to be sure thatsufficient outlets ,will be available as near as possible tothelocations desired by the tenant. When such facilities are not providedor if they are inadequate, the building owner is put to the eXpenseofseriously defacing the walls of the buildingaccording to the originaltenants requirements for wiring and to 4follow the same procedure forsubsequent occupants of the space. .This is especially true where terracotta tile is used, or other Vmaterials of ceramic substance and it isto be noted that such .ma-v terials vare calledfor b-y the underwritersand most municipal building codes :forthe greater portion of the wallsurface. f 1

In order to avoid the above disadvantages I contemplate .the provisionof a -cornerv tile of magnesite composition, which can ,be drilled,sawed or otherwise operated upon with ordinary carpenter tools. Thistile. may be set at diagonal corners of the vertical corners of afcolumnofa building, and thus provide access at any future date and at anyheight on all four sides of the column regardless of the number ofpartitions which abut the columns. Y

As another aspect of my invention I-contemplate the use of a tile of thesame material suita# ble for incorporation in an ordinary .partitionwall. Y

It is also within the objects of this inventionv to provide a tile whichmay .be used in column construction and placed centrally of such '.col-fumns where building codes permit such construction. Y 1 L Inthefollowing description I will refer Vto-myy novel walltiles as magnesitetiles because of their composition, but this reference isnot intended tobe limiting, as tiles of othermaterials may be used which have thesamecharacteristics,A namely, the ability to be sawed, drilled andotherwise worked with ordinary carpenter tools. The term .magnesite tileis used merely to distinguish my tile from other tiles shown inconjunctiontherewith. l

To the accomplishment ofthe foregoing and (Cl. 'Y2-41) related ends,said invention, then, consists o f the means hereinafter fully describedand particularly pointed out in the claims; the annexed drawings and thefollowing description setting forthin detail certain structure embodyingthe invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one ofvarious structural forms in which'the principle-of the invention may beused.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectional View showing my improved tile `usedwith conventional terra cotta tiles and blocks; Fig. 2is a perspectiveview of a. cornerA of the column shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is aperspectiveview` of my improved corner tile; Fig. 4 is a modification ofthe wall of Fig. l; Fig. 5 -is a `sectional view `of the `wall shown inFig. 4 surroundingfa supporting member; Fig. 6 is a perspective view ofa partition wall; Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 7-7 of Fig. 6; Fig.8 is a sectional'view on line 8-8 of Fig. 6; and Fig. 9 is a horizontalsection showing a modification of thev tile and wall shown in Fig. 1.v

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1, it willbe seen-that a supporting member 1 is illustrated which in this instancehas the form of an I-beam, but of course the invention contemplatesproviding a wallv which may surround any preferred form .of supportingmeans. @For instance, instead ofthe I-beam l there may be an H-beam, orin some buildings a rectangular or square member, and in some cases,circular columns of metal or other structural supporting materials maybe surrounded by my improved wall.

The I-beam 1 must be protected by a fire-proof wall according to thebuilding codes of most cities and this is done' by erecting a wall ofterra cotta blocksuabout such I-beam. However, it is well known ythatterra cotta blocksare almost impossible to drillas their brittlequalities cause them to split. In order to cure this defect I surroundthe I-beaml with aseries of blocks 2 which for the most. part extend. inone vertical'plane, that is, the four walls surrounding the column havethe'major portion of their extent in one vertical plane. At one cornerof the I-beam the flange 3 has blocks 4 and 5 in vclose engagementtherewith and out of the vertical plane ofthe blocks '2. `A corner blockis then placed inthewallso that a body portion 6 extends'flush with-theouter surface of theblocks 2, and a body/portion 'l extends similarlywith respect to the blocks 2, but at rightV angles to thefirst-namedblocks.` The endVV of the body portion 6 has a web`8 which inthis instance eX- tends obliquely from the body portion l6 in order thatthe mortar may act to tie in the corner tile. The body portion 7 islonger than the body portion 6 and has a web 9` which is spaced from the-end 10.l Thel web 9 extends approximately at the same angle as the web8 so that the blocks may be molded with least dimculty, but it will beseen that the web may obviously extend at practically any .desired anglefor :various jobs.

At the corner opposite to that just described,

there is another block built into the wall in exactly the same mannerand it will be seen that the diagonal relationship will provide ductswhich are .sulcient for allr practicalpclrposesas the partitions areusually run to the center of the column. I do not desire to limitimyself, however, to this specic showing, and may use corner tiles asdescribed, in each' of the corners of the column.

In Fig. 2 the method of assembling the wall is clearly shown in whichterra cotta tiles 2 are illustrated having staggered vertical joints.The staggeringof the Vertical joints aids in bonding and tieing thecorner tile 'to the wall, the corner tiles having their body portions 6and 7 reversed with respect to each other as Vthe wall proceedsupwardly. This is made possible by the provi-- sion of the webs 8 and 9i'n the manner described.Y Each of the wall tiles has a` lengthY equalto a conventional terra cotta block plus' a mortar joint, and this isdone in orderthat'no mortar be used between the horizontal joints.Y 'Itsuch mortar were used a large portion of 'itwould fall into the duct andchoke up such duct. A further means of bonding thecorner Vtiles isprovided in small exterior recessesll and 1-21whichv may havea slightamount of mortar trowelled in iiush with the vexterior lface of 1 thetile. -This recess will not extend tothe vinterior surface or the tileand thus the duct wilrbekept clear from top to bottom. Y j

The construction shown in. Fig.; 2.*is illustrated as being supporteduponfbase tiles 13 and 14 in which there are illustrated race-waysvl5and- 16, and it will be seen that wires may be led along these.racewaysand carried up-through openings 17, 18 and 19, andfthus into thevertical duct 20. VMy invention-however, does not depend uponfthe useofsuch specific base tile and may be usedwith any-other form ofrbase boardconstruction. AAfter thestructural mem-V bers of the column are'erected, the wholev wall receives a coating of plaster 2l, after whicha base'board 22 is applied and the wall is completed. `From this itwill'beV seen that rio-wiring will have to be installed, switchrboxes,plates or receptacles installed until such-time"as the occupants of thespace will require these facilities. Whenever outlets are required, such.operations may be accomplished bymerely'drilling'the corner tiles withan ordinaryv brace and bitfand then fishing the vwires through-"thathole and down to the base tile or other connectingpoints. In themedication shown in Figs. 4 andr 5 I have provided a flat tile36VV to beused at locations other than a corner of the column. This tile 36 has anend web B'Tand'another web 38, said webs acting as spacersYand'accurately.aligning themagnesite tile with theterra cotta blocks39. The terra cotta wall 39 surrounds an I- beam 40 and closely abutsthe end Vflanges Iil'yand 42 Von such I-beam. In the center of the wallsof terra cotta `there is an inner wall composedof blocks 48 andAQ whichback up theV magnesite block. .This construction, whilelosingsome oftheflexibility shownin Figs. l and 2, is cheaper in total cost as it savesl1/2- inches in the exterior size of the columnas compared to theconstructions shownV in Figs..l vand 2. It is also less expensive toconstruct because the flat .tiles Athe ductformed. by the vchambers6D.and

36 will be cheaper to manufacture than the corner tiles above referredto. Y Theflat tile l36 will form a duct 43 whichfbecause 'ofE itsjwidth,should be accessible even in the .event Ythat a partition is erectedwhich centrally abuts the column. Another duct 44 is formed but vthis.extends only the length of one'block due to the vertical staggering ofthe joints. I'hese blocks ,mfy'also haveY smallrecesses 45 and 46 whichwillfreceive mortar and thus act toV bond the Y' height and atanysubsequent date without any" injury .whatsoeverl to the-wall and Vinamuchr shorter time. v

In the modicationshown in Figs. 6, andS;

a magnesite partition tile 56 isillustrated incorporated inA apartitionwall'completed gradually l of units 57 of .ceramic material."In this instance', these ceramic units will be terra-cotta blocks butobviously vcinder, gypsum 'or concrete -bloclfzsl mayY be used just asWell.l Magnesite tile 56 has a width fj y' correspondingto that of thevceramic tiles57 andl will also have r interior 'chambers 60 "and'`61",' and an openfend vchamber 62.. Y' 'r- VByan Vinspection of thesectional views shownAA in Figs. 7 and 8, it will be seen that theinterior chambers 60 and 61 are continuous and form twor Ver'ticalducts,whereasthe endchamber over'- r lies a terracottatile of the .nextsucceeding suba jacent course. Asillustrated,I these tiles are shownysupported `by a Vbase block.63 yhaving channels or race-ways 645 and 65.These chan;

nels are for the reception of rhighfand low tensionVv wires andV suchwires Vmay be easily Vled ginto Y merely removing the base board 66.

, In the'n'iodication shown. in Fig.` I haveV Y shown a structuralsupporting member which,'in this instance;is. an I-beam 67`which issurrounded by awall ofterracotta.block` 68: exceptat the corners. 4Aspecial. tile isfshown atthe corners and Vthis tileisa modification ofthecornertile illustrated inFig. 3. This tilelcomprises anlagnesitecorner: tile having two` body portio`ns69 and 70, and -two end webs L'Il and 72. A second corner tile of ceramic material has two body por'-Vtions 73 and-74 and end webs 75 and Y'76, the. webs of the ceramic tilebeing cemented lor otherwiseV securedby means of. the layers 77` and '78of ad. hesive material, to -the end webs 7l and 72. This block willYbe,assembled. and sold' asa unitA and'` andA one which 'may be drilledwithout injury: .to

Ythe exterior wall atany lsubsequent time.

A. From the preceding description it will' be seenj that I have providedVa construction which allows exibility vas .wellY as least expense,where-walls .Y

may be desired Vvto befaltered for the pro'visionofV electrical outlets..It-will also be notedthat my improved tile may beincorporated inthewzaill when such wall isinitially built andthat a great it Y saving,will result from this for the reason that the building will not have toinstall a number of outlets which may never be'used. It will also beseen that a wall constructed according to my invention may have afixture and outlet applied thereto without defacing the wall, also themagnesite tile will readily receive wood screws and hold them rmly, thuspermitting, with the least amount of labor, the attachment to the Wallof outlet plates, fan brackets, electric clocks, telegraph messengercall boxes, etc., at any desired height. l

It is also to be noted that the invention will Vbe especially applicableto business oices Vwhich make great use of adding machines,annunciators, call systems, telephones, or other means of communicationin which wires act as the medium of conduction.

While general construction practice employs terra cotta blocks forre-proong interior columns, in some sections of the contry wire mesh iswrapped around the steel column and a form set up of wood into which ispoured concrete, thus reproong the column with concrete. In such caseseither the corner column unit or the side column unit could be nailed inproper position on the inside of the form and have nailed on at the backa sheet of asbestos wall board, which installation would keep theraceway clear and concrete could be poured around it,.leaving the columnunit imbedded in the concrete with its exterior face flush with thebalance of the cement column and the whole would then be plastered.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explainedjchange being madeV as regards the structureherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my inventionzl. A corner tile comprising two body portions extending at anglesto eachother, said portions having spacing webs extending therefrom, one ofsaid webs extending from an end of one of said body portions and theother web being spaced inwardly from the end of said other body portion,the spacing webs being located equidistantly from the intersection ofsaid body portions.

2. A corner tile comprising two body portions extending at angles toeach other, said portions having spacing webs extending therefrom, oneof said webs extending from an end of4 one of said body portions and theother web being spaced inwardly from the end of said other bodyportion,vsaid tile being composed of va drillable, sawable material.

3. In a column construction, the combination of a supporting member, aterra cotta wall completely Ysurrounding said member, and a series ofdrillable, sawable and threadable duct tiles associated with said terracotta wall at a corner of said column, and forming registering openingsfor substantially the full height of the column.

4c. In a column construction, the combination of a supporting member, aterra cotta wallcompletely surrounding said member, and a series ofdrillable, sawable and threadable duct tiles associated with said terracotta wall at a corner of said column, said terra cotta wall beingoffset inwardly at said corner and said duct tile lying ush with theexterior thereof, and forming registering openings for substantially thefull height of the column.

5,. In a column construction, the combination of a supporting member, aterra cotta wall completely surrounding said member, and a series ofdrillable, sawable and threadable duct tiles associated with said terracotta wall at a corner of said column, said duct tiles each having aheight equal to that of the units of said terra cotta wall plus a mortarjoint and having bonding vmeans on top and bottom edges locatedequidistantly from the corner.

6. A corner tile, adapted to be used in a column enclosure with terracotta tiles, comprising two body portions extending at angles to eachother, said portions having spacing webs extending end of one of saidbody portions and the other web being spaced inwardly from the end ofsaid other body portion, said tile being composed of a drillable,sawable material, and having a height equal to that of a terra cottatile plus a mortar joint.

7 In a column, the combination of a supporting member, a protective wallof units of ceramic material completely surrounding said member, and avertical tier of corner tiles associated with said wall in staggeredrelation, said corner tiles being of drillable sawable and threadablematerial, and having body portions extending at right angles, one ofsaid portions being longer than the other, and spacing means on saidtiles for forming a duct between said units and said tiles.

8. In a column, the combination of a supporting member, a protectivewall of units of ceramic material surrounding said member, and a tier ofcorner tiles associated with said wall, said corner tiles being ofdrillable material, and having body portions extending at right angles,one

of said portions being longer than the other, and said tier having saidcorner tiles arranged alternately with one of said longer portionsadjacent a shorter body portion.

9. Ina column construction, the combination of a supporting memberhaving a web and flanges, a wall of terra cotta blocks surrounding saidmember, central portions of said Wall adjacent said web being inwardlyoffset and a composition duct tile being received in such oiset, saidcomposition tile having a height equal to that of one of said terracotta blocks plus a mortar joint.

10. In a column construction, the combination of a supporting memberhaving a web and flanges, a terra cotta wall surrounding said member,central portions of said 4wall adjacent said web being inwardly offsetand a composition duct tile being received in such offset, the verticaljoints in said colunm being staggered.

11. A corner tile comprising an L shaped, drillable composition tilehaving webs on its ends, and an L shaped: tile of ceramic materialhaving webs on its ends, the webs on each of the ends of saidtiles-being secured together.

12. A corner tile comprising an L shaped, drillable composition tilehaving webs on its ends, and an L shaped tile of ceramic material.having webs on its ends, the webs on each of the ends of` said tilesbeing secured together, there being a duct said ceramic tile. i

ARTHUR R. DIXON.

therefrom, one of said webs extending from an

